VikingNet enhances classroom lessons

Niles online learning site provides learning, social networking.

Niles online learning site provides learning, social networking.

January 24, 2007|MELISSA JACKSON Tribune Staff Writer

NILES -- With its slick design, goofy teenage profile pictures, instant messaging capability, online discussion boards and more than 900 registered users, VikingNet could be mistaken for the latest social networking sensation to hit the Web. In some respects it is, at least for Niles High School students who regularly log onto the school-run site that debuted online this fall. But the site, which was accessed 220 times by about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, is more than just a tool to chat with friends. "VikingNet is, quite simply, a place for teachers to post resources," teacher Patrick Malley explained to school board members Monday. Malley, who spearheaded the virtual learning project, characterizes VikingNet as "a place where students can complete school work using the medium of their generation, the Internet." Malley's approach to teaching caught the eye of Curriculum Director Jim Craig after he heard his daughter raving about the class. Other students expressed similar opinions and Malley was asked to develop a training system so his colleagues could learn how to enhance their lessons with online experiences. Using Moodle, a free course management system, the district created VikingNet, which can be found online at www.nilesschools.org/vikingnet. About 10 teachers are using the site so far and the goal is for all of Niles' core classes to have an online component. The program, which offers a wealth of teaching tools and innovative ways to engage students and keep tabs on their progress, also fulfills the new state graduation requirement mandating that students must have an online learning experience during high school, Craig said. So what exactly can VikingNet do? Teachers can post things like class assignments, notes or class slides, project due dates, quizzes and external links to additional information or tutorials. One tool Malley likes is the online forums. For instance, in his psychology class he will post a controversial topic and ask students to respond. In a graphics arts class, students post their work on the site for their peers to see and sometimes grade according to a teacher-developed rubric. "Writing a paper for their teacher, what kind of effort are they going to put into that?" Malley said. "But writing a paper for each other is a big deal. That social aspect, I think, is one of the benefits of this site. Creating content for one another to share as opposed to for the teacher who's going to grade you." He also noted that when he gives essay assignments to his ninth grade U.S. history on the forum he has about 86 percent participation. Teachers can also create assessments online. Math and science teacher Matt Hamill likes the fact that the assessments are randomized so that students could draw any number of different questions on the same content. "Steven can't call Danny and say, 'What'd you get for question number one?' because he's going to get a different answer," Hamill said. "So instead, Steven has to call Danny and say, 'How do you do number one?' And that is revolutionary (since) now the kids actually have to understand what's going on. It's not a process of copying down what some other kid has already done and not learning anything. Now they have to understand the background behind it and they can communicate back and forth through the messenger." Hamill also liked the fact that students can go back and take a completely different quiz over the same content if he or she isn't satisfied with the score or runs out of time. "That's what you want as a teacher. You want kids working on stuff when you're not there watching them. You want them to work on stuff and not copy it off someone else," he said. School administrators have complete access to all student activity on the site so they can take action if they suspect it is being used inappropriately. Staff writer Melissa Jackson: mjackson@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7003